Yl PEEFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION
- aiming day and niglit at administrative perfection,
' do not fondly expect to attain it, and hope less to
- keep censors at bay by absolute faultlessness than to
' trample their diatribes down by that massive kind ' of success which will cover all petty mistakes ; ' In the more or less separate field which you ' choose for your warlike exertions, dispense, if you
- can, with the aid of any independent allies, so that
' he who may lead your army shall be free from ' the stress of joint councils, and hold an undivided ' command ; ' Let your general so govern the writers collecting
- " news " in his camp as to make them do good —
' do only good — to their country, and harm — only ' harm — to the enemy ; ' In your honourable, your sacred desire to be spar- ' ing of the lives of ouv glorious seamen and soldiers, ' do not fail to remember that it may be more truly ' wise and humane to face the known evil of losing
- men fast during several minutes from fire and cold
' steel, than to await the calamity of losing them ' rather more slowly, yet during perhaps many ' months, from the consequences of a long, tedious ' strife bringing with it the curse of disease ; ' Eemember always that Victory is not a mere
- unfruitful treasure to be hoarded, caressed, and
' enjoyed, but rather a spell of great potency to be ' instantly and daringly used.' Such are five of the manifold lessons most